Florida state grant smooths path to Henry J. Klutho Park project

Wednesday

Aug 23, 2017 at 2:24 PM

Ann Friedman

Springfield’s Henry J. Klutho Park will soon be home to 10 large scale sculptures.

Jenny Hager, a University of North Florida associate sculpture professor, launched the nonprofit, Sculpture Walk, in 2013 in downtown’s Main Street Park after receiving a Spark Grant from the Cultural Council of Northeast Florida.

Earlier this year, Hager and Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) Executive Director Christina Parrish-Stone applied for a Florida State grant from the Division of Cultural Affairs. They were awarded a grant for $25,000 and Councilman Reggie Gaffney matched the funds to place a Sculpture Walk in Henry J. Klutho Park, which is located at 204 W. 3rd St.

"I’ve loved Springfield since I moved to Jacksonville," Hager said. "It’s a great neighborhood and I like the fact that we will have something that will revitalize the area."

She added that the 10 large-scale sculptures will be placed on the Greenway Trail along Hogans Creek and that artists from across the nation are invited to submit their work, which must be a minimum of 8 feet tall.

"They’ll be from a variety of artists and hopefully we’ll have some from Jacksonville too," Hager said. "They’ll be there for two years and then they will be available for purchase or returned to the artist."

Parrish-Stone said community members and corporations will have an opportunity to sponsor a sculpture and a plaque will be placed in front of it with their name.

"Money from that will help us make improvements along the trail including lighting and seating," she said.

Parrish-Stone added that SPAR is donating $5,000 to the project as well as launching a fundraising initiative to purchase at least three sculptures when Sculpture Walk concludes in two years.

"Depending on how much money we raise, we’ll purchase a few sculptures and what we hope will happen is after this first Sculpture Walk is we’ll have permanent sculptures along the trail," she said. "We also plan to apply for the grant again two years from now in order to add more sculptures to the trail."

Parrish-Stone said she’s looking forward to adding sculptures to Springfield.

"I believe that public art is a way to improve quality of life in the neighborhood," she said. "It will be nice to have beautiful sculptures along the trail for those who use it to enjoy."

Hager said the artists who submit their work must use materials that are suited for outdoor use including steel or fiberglass.

"We’re encouraging interactive work," she said. "We’d really like to have some with lighting too."

Sculpture Walk is scheduled to debut in late October before PorchFest, which has been held since Nov. 2014 and features more than 20 performers playing on porches throughout Springfield’s historic district.

"I hope it brings more traffic to the park," Hager said. "I hope it becomes a tourist and local destination that people
enjoy."

Artist submissions will be accepted until Sep. 1 and will be judged by a panel that will include community members and arts professionals. An opening reception is scheduled for Nov. 4 during Jacksonville Porchfest.

For more information and to submit artwork, visit www.sparcouncil.org/sculpture_walk_springfield_call_to_artists.

Ann Friedman: (904) 359-4619

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